Difference between revisions of "BRender"

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==BRender==
==BRender==
BRender is the Blazing Render engine created by [[Argonaut Software]].
BRender is the Blazing Render engine created by [[Argonaut Software]].



==BRender Development==
==BRender Development==


*[https://rr2000.toshiba-3.com/R4/BRENDER/TEBK_1.HTM BRender Technical Manual]
*[https://rr2000.toshiba-3.com/R4/BRENDER/TEBK_1.HTM BRender Technical Manual] (HTML version)
*[https://archive.org/details/brender-technical-reference-manual BRender Technical Manual v1.2] (PDF)
*[https://archive.org/details/brender-tutorial-guide BRender Tutorial Guide v1.2] (PDF)
*[https://archive.org/details/brender-x-86-install-guide BRender x86 Install Guide v1.2] (PDF)




The PDF versions were created by converting FrameMaker/FrameReader versions from the BRender v1.2 SDK, and may have some text glitches due to missing fonts.
TODO: Link to the OS/2 SDK and more docs


⚫
BRender research


⚫
==BRender research==
I've been trying to contact people who worked on BRender, to see if they can provide an SDK. Current progress:
I've been trying to contact people who worked on BRender, to see if they can provide an SDK. Current progress:


*Sam Littlewood ([https://www.reddit.com/user/samlittlewood u/samelittlewood]) (sam in the BRender strings). [https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/2o2bh2/17_year_old_carmageddon_debugging_symbols_file/cmjni9n Contacted on reddit], he followed up a bit later to say he no longer had any documentation or SDKs.
*Sam Littlewood ([https://www.reddit.com/user/samlittlewood u/samelittlewood]) (sam in the BRender strings). [https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/2o2bh2/17_year_old_carmageddon_debugging_symbols_file/cmjni9n Contacted on reddit], he followed up a bit later to say he no longer had any documentation or SDKs.
*Dan Piponi ([https://twitter.com/sigfpe @sigfpe]). [https://twitter.com/Foone/status/662067352247242752 Only has the manual, which we already have].
*Dan Piponi ([https://twitter.com/sigfpe @sigfpe]). [https://twitter.com/Foone/status/662067352247242752 Only has the manual, which we already have].
*Jez San: Not yet contacted. I have a possible email address to follow up on.
*Jez San: Contacted, doesn't have any SDKs but did give approval to open source the BRender SDK.

==BRender SDKs==
We know of at least THREE existing examples of the SDK, with possibly two more existing but not yet confirmed.

*[https://archive.org/details/IBMDeveloperConnectionForOS25CDs IBM Developer Connection for OS/2 Volume 12], disc 3 under TOOLKITS\WARPTKV3\TOOLKIT\BETA\BRENDER: Contains an OS/2-only version of the BRender SDK, with docs in an OS/2-only format, and is limited to the floating-point only version. The internal file dates point to March 1995.
*[https://archive.org/details/boi-jul-96 Best Of Internet July 1996]. This warez CD includes a copy of the SDK called "[[BRender x86 1.1.2]]". Mainly for DOS, but includes a sample file running BRender in a Win32s app. Dates point to September 1995.
*3rd source: A leaked (and confidential at this point) game source library contained an original and a modified version of the BRender SDK, complete with source. This became the v1.3.2 and "1997" source releases.
*[https://archive.org/details/brender25 BRender SDK v1.2] (aka BRENDER25.ZIP): This version is from March 1996, and was found on January 15th, 2022.
*Unfound version: Another warez CD, this one "[http://hassoft.freeservers.com/proglist/Cd-147.txt CD-147]" (I'm not sure of the name) includes "The Brender Development Toolkit V1.4" (WPNBRDT1.ZIP, 1442825 bytes).
*[https://github.com/foone/BRender-3DMM BRender-3DMM]: The version used by 3D Movie Maker. Dating to May 1995, this version is only 3 pre-compiled LIB files.

==Open Sourced BRender==
On May 3rd 2022, [https://twitter.com/Foone/status/1521574394761383936 the BRender engine was open sourced by Jez San]. Two versions of the source were released on this day, with a 3rd hopefully coming soon. These first two versions come from the leaked SDK mentioned above.
{| class="wikitable"
⚫
|+
!Version
!Date
!Github
!Archive
!Notes
⚫
|-
|v1.3.2
⚫
|1998-11-17
|[https://github.com/foone/BRender-v1.3.2 BRender-v1.3.2]
|[https://archive.org/details/brender-v-1.3.2 brender-v-1.3.2]
|Appears to be unmodified
⚫
|-
|v???
|1997-08-??
|[https://github.com/foone/BRender-1997 BRender-1997]
|[https://archive.org/details/brender-1997 brender-1997]
|Modified to be used in a game, which has been redacted out of the source
⚫
|-
|v1.1.2
|1995/09/07
|[https://github.com/foone/BRender-v1.1.2 BRender-v1.1.2]
|[https://archive.org/details/brender-v-1.1.2 brender-v-1.1.2]
|Unmodified (or very lightly modified), originally used with the game Privateer 2
|-
⚫
|N/A
|N/A
|[https://github.com/crocguy0688/CrocDE-BRender CrocDE-BRender]
|
|The version used by Croc: Definitive Edition. A modernized version of the source with OpenGL rendering
|}


==Games using the BRender Engine==
==Games using the BRender Engine==
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|+
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|Stainless Software
|Stainless Software
|Interplay, SCi Games
|Interplay, SCi Games
|DOS, Windows, Macintosh
|DOS
|-
|-
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/carmageddon-2-carpocalypse-now Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now]
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/carmageddon-2-carpocalypse-now Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now]
Line 75: Line 119:
|Stainless Software
|Stainless Software
|SCi Games
|SCi Games
|Windows, Macintosh, N64
|Windows, Macintosh
|-
|-
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/croc-legend-of-the-gobbos Croc 1: Legend of the Gobbos]
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/croc-legend-of-the-gobbos Croc 1: Legend of the Gobbos]
Line 81: Line 125:
|Argonaut
|Argonaut
|Fox Interactive
|Fox Interactive
|Windows, Playstation, Sega Saturn
|Windows
⚫
|-
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/croc-2 Croc 2]
|1999
|Argonaut
⚫
|Fox Interactive
|Windows, Playstation
|-
|-
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/doctor-who-destiny-of-the-doctors Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctors]
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/doctor-who-destiny-of-the-doctors Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctors]
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|GTE Entertainment
|GTE Entertainment
|Windows
|Windows
⚫
|-
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets___ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]
|2002
|Argonaut
|Electronic Arts
|Playstation
⚫
|-
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone___ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone]
|2001
|Argonaut
|Electronic Arts
|Playstation
|-
|-
|[https://twitter.com/toshiba_3/status/1081341513366425600 Hasbro Xscape/Rush/Toaster (cancelled)]
|[https://twitter.com/toshiba_3/status/1081341513366425600 Hasbro Xscape/Rush/Toaster (cancelled)]
Line 159: Line 185:
|Particle Systems
|Particle Systems
|Infogrames
|Infogrames
⚫
|Windows
⚫
|-
|[http://bill.bzaar.net/avoc/Html/Screenshots/kanaan.htm Kanaan (cancelled)]
⚫
|N/A
|Argonaut
|Ubisoft
|Windows
|Windows
|-
|-
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|Eutechnyx Limited
|Eutechnyx Limited
|Ocean Software
|Ocean Software
|DOS, Windows, Playstation
|DOS, Windows
|-
|-
|[[w:3D_Movie_Maker#Versions|Nickelodeon 3D Movie Maker]]
|[[w:3D_Movie_Maker#Versions|Nickelodeon 3D Movie Maker]]
Line 183: Line 203:
|Codemasters
|Codemasters
|Codemasters
|Codemasters
|DOS, Windows, Playstation
|DOS, Windows
|-
|-
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/play-with-the-teletubbies Play with the Teletubbies]
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/play-with-the-teletubbies Play with the Teletubbies]
Line 189: Line 209:
|Asylum Entertainment
|Asylum Entertainment
|Knowledge Adventure
|Knowledge Adventure
|Windows, Playstation
|Windows
|-
|-
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/privateer-2-the-darkening Privateer 2: The Darkening]
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/privateer-2-the-darkening Privateer 2: The Darkening]
Line 219: Line 239:
|Sensible Software
|Sensible Software
|GT Interactive
|GT Interactive
|Windows, Playstation
|Windows
|-
|-
|[https://archive.org/details/surfdestroy_demo Surf and Destroy (demo)]
|[https://www.mobygames.com/game/uprising-x Uprising X]
|N/A
⚫
|1998
⚫
|Grolier Interactive
|Cyclone Studios
|3DO
|?
⚫
|Windows
|Playstation
|}
|}


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==Links==
==Links==


*[http://wiki.carmageddon.com/wiki/BRender BRender on the Carmageddon Wiki]
*[https://wiki.cwaboard.co.uk/wiki/BRender BRender on the Carmageddon Wiki]
*[https://rr2000.toshiba-3.com/pc-files Road Reaction's PC files section contains some BRender info in the Other Files section]
*[https://rr2000.toshiba-3.com/pc-files Road Reaction's PC files section contains some BRender info in the Other Files section] See also [https://rr2000.cwaboard.co.uk/tutorials under Tutorials, at the bottom.]
*[https://rr2000.cwaboard.co.uk/R6/BRender/ Road Reactions BRender resources]

Latest revision as of 15:57, 9 May 2022

BRender

BRender is the Blazing Render engine created by Argonaut Software.

BRender Development


The PDF versions were created by converting FrameMaker/FrameReader versions from the BRender v1.2 SDK, and may have some text glitches due to missing fonts.

BRender research

I've been trying to contact people who worked on BRender, to see if they can provide an SDK. Current progress:

BRender SDKs

We know of at least THREE existing examples of the SDK, with possibly two more existing but not yet confirmed.

  • IBM Developer Connection for OS/2 Volume 12, disc 3 under TOOLKITS\WARPTKV3\TOOLKIT\BETA\BRENDER: Contains an OS/2-only version of the BRender SDK, with docs in an OS/2-only format, and is limited to the floating-point only version. The internal file dates point to March 1995.
  • Best Of Internet July 1996. This warez CD includes a copy of the SDK called "BRender x86 1.1.2". Mainly for DOS, but includes a sample file running BRender in a Win32s app. Dates point to September 1995.
  • 3rd source: A leaked (and confidential at this point) game source library contained an original and a modified version of the BRender SDK, complete with source. This became the v1.3.2 and "1997" source releases.
  • BRender SDK v1.2 (aka BRENDER25.ZIP): This version is from March 1996, and was found on January 15th, 2022.
  • Unfound version: Another warez CD, this one "CD-147" (I'm not sure of the name) includes "The Brender Development Toolkit V1.4" (WPNBRDT1.ZIP, 1442825 bytes).
  • BRender-3DMM: The version used by 3D Movie Maker. Dating to May 1995, this version is only 3 pre-compiled LIB files.

Open Sourced BRender

On May 3rd 2022, the BRender engine was open sourced by Jez San. Two versions of the source were released on this day, with a 3rd hopefully coming soon. These first two versions come from the leaked SDK mentioned above.

Version Date Github Archive Notes
v1.3.2 1998-11-17 BRender-v1.3.2 brender-v-1.3.2 Appears to be unmodified
v??? 1997-08-?? BRender-1997 brender-1997 Modified to be used in a game, which has been redacted out of the source
v1.1.2 1995/09/07 BRender-v1.1.2 brender-v-1.1.2 Unmodified (or very lightly modified), originally used with the game Privateer 2
N/A N/A CrocDE-BRender The version used by Croc: Definitive Edition. A modernized version of the source with OpenGL rendering

Games using the BRender Engine

Name Year Developer Publisher Platforms
3D Movie Maker 1995 Microsoft Microsoft Windows
Alien Odyssey 1995 Argonaut Philips Interactive DOS
Arena AD (cancelled) N/A Stainless Software ? Windows
Bondurant High Performance Racing (Unreleased/in-house?) N/A Fathom Pictures ? ?
Bundesliga Manager 97 / Total Football Management 1996 Software 2000 Software 2000 DOS
Bundesliga Manager 98 1998 Software 2000 Eidos Windows
Carmageddon 1997 Stainless Software Interplay, SCi Games DOS, Windows, Macintosh
Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now 1998 Stainless Software SCi Games Windows, Macintosh
Croc 1: Legend of the Gobbos 1997 Argonaut Fox Interactive Windows
Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctors 1997 Studio Fish BBC Multimedia Windows
F1 Manager 1996 Software 2000 Software 2000 DOS
F1 Manager Professional 1997 Software 2000 Software 2000 DOS
Freelancer 2120 (cancelled) N/A Imagitec ? DOS
FX Fighter 1995 Argonaut GTE Entertainment DOS
FX Fighter Turbo 1996 Argonaut GTE Entertainment Windows
Hasbro Xscape/Rush/Toaster (cancelled) N/A Hasbro ? ?
Hotwheels project (cancelled) N/A Stainless Software ? ?
Independence War 1998 Particle Systems Infogrames Windows
I-War: Defiance 1999 Particle Systems Infogrames Windows
Motor Mash 1998 Eutechnyx Limited Ocean Software DOS, Windows
Nickelodeon 3D Movie Maker 1996 Microsoft Microsoft Windows
Pete Sampras Tennis '97 1996 Codemasters Codemasters DOS, Windows
Play with the Teletubbies 1998 Asylum Entertainment Knowledge Adventure Windows
Privateer 2: The Darkening 1996 EA Manchester Electronic Arts DOS, Windows
Queen: The eYe 1998 Destination Design Electronic Arts DOS
Search and Rescue (SAR) 1997 Interactivision Intense Entertainment Interactive Windows
Sensible Soccer '98 1997 Sensible Software GT Interactive Windows
Sensible Soccer '98: European Club Edition 1998 Sensible Software GT Interactive Windows
Surf and Destroy (demo) N/A Grolier Interactive ? Windows

BRender Versions

See BRender versions used by games

Links

Retrieved from "https://wiki.foone.org/index.php?title=BRender&oldid=327"